Monaco Grand Prix : Corner-by-corner guide

Based on an article published in The Sun in 2017. Read the original article – here

MONACOMonaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west... There's more... may be the shortest and slowest circuitA circuit is a racetrack for car racing. There's more... in the F1F1 is the pinnacle of open wheel,  single seater car racing and arguably the highest level of any motorsport globally.... There's more... calendarThe race calendar includes all the official dates and start times for Formula 1 races, qualifying and practice sessions for... There's more... but it remains arguably the most famous track in the world.

With stunning scenery and a wealth of history, Monte Carlo has been a regular circuit in F1 since the 1950s. It is the shortest track of the season and features some of the slowest corners.

Monaco has some of the most recognised cornerIn formula 1, a corner is much more than a turn on the track, it is a considered and deliberate... There's more... names in F1, so here they are in turn by turn order…

Turn 1 – Sainte DevoteMonaco Turn 1 - Sainte Devote Monaco's first turn, named after a small chapel called Saint Devota. This corner is... There's more...

Behind the barriersBarriers are used on race tracks to keep the cars in and the public out. Whereever possible barriers are set... There's more... of the first turn of the Monaco Grand PrixA Grand Prix is a motorsport series sanctioned by the FIA and held in various countries for a world title.... There's more... is a small chapel called Saint Devota.

It’s tough to catch a glimpse of the historic building on race day as it is covered up by both barriers and advertising.

But this corner is like plenty of other first turns on the F1 calendar in the sense there is a lot of drama on the first lap as it is a tight right-hand turn.

A number of glamorous yachts line up in the harbour for race day

Turn 2 – Beau RivageMonaco Turn 2 - Beau Rivage Beau Rivage - stands for "beautiful coastline" in French - hard to see on... There's more...

Beau Rivage – stands for “beautiful coastline” in French – but like the chapel, on race day, the view is interrupted by a set of glamorous yachts lined up in the harbour.

It is a high-speed uphill stage of the circuit as drivers pick up speeds of 155 mph as they try and get away from the busy first turn.

But despite this speed, drivers have to be careful they don’t put their foot down too much as they enter MassenetMonaco Turn 3 - Massenet Named after the opera composer Jules Massenet. The opera house is alongside the turn, with... There's more...

Turn 3 – Massenet

Massenet is named after the opera composer Jules Massenet.

The opera house is alongside the turn, with a bust statue of Massenet placed outside of the building.

The long left-hand corner then takes the drivers into Casino SquareMonaco Turn 4 - Casino Square Casino Square is one of the most iconic parts of the track where the... There's more....

Turn 4 – Casino Square

One of the most iconic stages of the track is Casino Square as the circuit weaves around the Casino and its surrounding water fountain and garden.

The cars sweep past the casino, which surprisingly does not allow citizens of Monaco to gamble on their building.

The Monaco casino is part of the stunning scenery in Monte Carlo

Turn 5 – Mirabeau HauteMonaco Turn 5 - Mirabeau Haute Mirabeau Haute (High) is named after the hotel on the corner and sees the... There's more...

The drivers then head downhill into Mirabeau which frequently sees drama due to pile ups, leading to crashes.

It sees the cars rush into the tight right-hander before the slowest and one of the most memorable turns on the F1 calendar.

The turn is also named after a hotel which is on the side of the track.

Turn 6 – Grand Hotel Hairpin 

When people think of Monaco, this turn usually comes to mind.

As previously mentioned, it is the slowest corner on the F1 calendar, with drivers going at just 30mph.

It was previously known as the ‘Station’ and ‘Loews’ HairpinMonaco Turn 6 - Grand Hotel Hairpin The Grand Hotel Hairpin or just 'the hairpin is the slowest corner on... There's more....

Turn 7 – Mirabeau BasMonaco Turn 7 - Mirabeau Bas Turn 7 and the second and lower (Bas) Mirabeau corner on the exit of... There's more...

The second and lower (Bas) Mirabeau corner on the exit of the hairpin. 

Turn 8 – PortierTurn 8, Portier, is named after an area in Monaco, which is also a catholic order. The site of Aryton... There's more...

Something a lot of F1 fansThe fans are the life-blood of F1, without us the sport wouldn't be what it is today.  From the 300,000... There's more... remember this corner for is when Ayrton SennaAyrton Senna da Silva is one of F1's all-time greats. A Brazilian racing driver who won the Formula One World... There's more... famously crashed in 1988.

The legendary Brazilian was a minute ahead of his team-mate and rival Alain Prost before his crash handed Pros the victory.

The corner is named after an area in Monaco, which is also a catholic order.

Turn 9 – The TunnelMonaco, Turn 9 Not a corner in the usual sense, the tunnel is a long sweeping bend, where the drivers... There's more...

The drivers then put their foot down as they drive through the wonderous tunnel in the Monaco Grand Prix.

When the weather is sunny for race day, drivers are hit with the beaming sunlight after they have driven through the indoor part of the track.

Turn 10 – Nouvelle ChicaneMonaco Turn 10 - Nouvelle Chicane The new (nouvelle) chicane was constructed in 1986. This part of the race has... There's more...

The drivers then go down a steep hill before having to heavily brake ahead of the sharp chicaneA chicane is a series of corners, in quick succession and often towards the end of a fast sector, designed... There's more....

This part of the race has been part of this historic circuit and was initially called the Chicane du Port, with it being right next to the luxury yachts.

This is one of the very few overtaking pointsFormula 1 runs two competitions over the course of the season, the Constructor's title and the Driver's title. Points are... There's more... on the circuit.

The chicane was renovated in 1986 and was renamed the Nouvelle Chicane – ‘Nouvelle’ meaning ‘new’.

Turn 12 – TabacMonaco Turn 12 - Tabac Named after a small tobacco shop on the side of the track this sweeping left-hand... There's more...

There is then a sweeping left hand turn and this corner is virtually the same as the original track.

It was named after a small tabacco shop on the side of the track.

This turn has seen some heavy impact crashes.

Turn 13 – Louis ChironMonaco Turn 13 - Louis Chiron One of two chicanes which take the cars around the swimming pool. A change... There's more...

Now, there are essentially two chicanes which take the cars around the swimming poolMonaco Turn 14 - Swimming Pool Following Tabac, the cars would have a long straight, but in the 1970s a... There's more....

The first of these is also known as the Virage Louis Chiron, named after one of Monaco’s three F1 drivers. Chiron finished third at the first F1 world championship Monaco Grand Prix in 1950.

Turn 14 – Swimming Pool

Following Tabac, the cars would have a long straight, but in the 1970s a swimming pool was built – forcing the track to adapt.

This introduced two new corners which are both equally challenging as drivers are reluctant to drop their speed through the tight turns.

Turn 16 – La RascasseMonaco Turn 16 - La Rascasse Heading into the second to last turn and it was named after an old... There's more...

Heading into the second to last turn and it was named after an old fisherman’s restaurant but it is now a high class diner.

Michael SchumacherMichael Schumacher is a German former racing driver who competed in Formula One for Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari, and Mercedes and... There's more... famously stopped during qualifyingQualifying (Quali) is a one-hour session used to determine pole position and the order the cars will line up behind... There's more... in 2006, which stopped his rival Fernando AlonsoFernando Alonso (No 14) is a Spanish born F1 driver contracted to Alpine See more on Fernando on our profile... There's more... from beating him time and taking pole positionPole Position (Pole) is the first grid box closest to the start line. The rest of the field lines up,... There's more....

Turn 17 – Anthony NoghesMonaco Turn 17 - Anthony Noghes The final corner of this stunning track is named after the founder - Anthony... There's more...

The final corner of this stunning track is named after the founder – Anthony Noghes.

He was behind the first every Monaco Grand Prix.

Once they have finished the final corner the drivers then go flat out'Flat out' refers to the driver having his foot pushing the accelerator down to the floor, not lifting off and... There's more... over the start/finish line.